First ECGA Coast to Hartford
Bike Tour a Success

The tireless efforts of many ensured the success of the first ECGA Coast to Hartford Bike tour. ECGA members and state committee volunteers worked together to develop the multi-day tour that converged in Hartford on May 30, 1997, for the Connecticut Bicycle Coalition, Inc. "CONNvention 97" and the "Hartford Park Bike Tour III" the next day.

The purpose of the tour was to provide publicity for the ECGA and celebrate the achievements of local groups developing the trail in their communities. Articles about the tour in the Providence Journal and the Hartford Courant increased public awareness and support of the East Coast Greenway concept. ECGA booth staffers at "CONNvention 97" distributed information on the organization and its goals. Here too, public awareness and support was increased as cyclists and other interested people embraced the concept of a trail linking cities along the east coast.

Riders received an enthusiastic welcome at every event on the route. As the cyclists and support teams passed through, residents and officials from towns and cities along the trail came out to greet and cheer them on to their destination. The welcoming events were attended by local press, representatives of local environmental groups and cycling enthusiasts. ECGA tour t-shirts and State of the Trail reports were distributed to local officials at every stop on the tour route.

The first year of the ECGA Coast to Hartford tour reached the goals set for the event and the organization. The publicity surrounding the event informed vast numbers of people in the states along the route of the concept of an urban Appalachian Trail. The introductory work by state committees on the trail from Portland and New York to Hartford will pave the way to expanded tours in future years. Special thanks go to everyone from Maine to New York who contributed their time and knowledge to the first ECGA Coast to Hartford Tour.

For more information call Sue Barker at 401-423-2623 or e-mail: sueb4@home.com. A complete report on the Tour prepared for the Alliance board is available here.

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